Ladder-support.



J. M. MILLS, JE- LADDER SUPPORTJ APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1913.

1 T: A W M m V M a 1, m i 2 1 V0 JIC c C c c M/ 0 S c 1! N m 1. d H n .w a P 0 e z 1 C 1||ii i J n $511151 xii 1%- 5 THE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTO-Llrnu. WASHINGTON, D. c

J. M. MILLS, JR.

LADDER SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1913.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHomLI7-Ho.. WASHINGION, D. C.

J. M. MILLS, JR. LADDER SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1913.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

4 $HEBTS-SHEET 3.

' I THE NORRIS FETERS CO, PHOm-uTHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. M. MILLS, JR. LADDER SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1913.

1,115,559. Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

M Mommas THE NORRIS PETERS C0. PHOTOYLITHUH WASHING ION, D. C.

'citizen of the United States, residing at To all whom it may concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. MILLS, .13., or TISKILWA, ILLINQIS, AssIGNoR or onnrouiarn TO HA RY L.

MILLS, or TISKILWA, ILLINOIS.

Application filed June 17,1913. Serial No. 774,223.

Be it known that I, JOHN M. MiLLs, Jr.,

Tiskilwa, in the county of Bureau and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladder-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ladder supports and has as its object to provide a support and base which maybe readily applied to any ordinary ladder and which will support the ladder in upright position so that one end of a board or scaffold plank maybe supported upon any of itsrungs.

It is one aim of the invention to provide a ladder support adapted to support a ladder in upright position and to extend at right angles from a wall against whlch it is braced, the support being ad ustable to permit of its ready application to and removal from ladders of various sizes. Another aim of the invention is to provide a base adaptedfor application to any ordinary ladder and adapted when applied to brace the ladder in spaced relation to a wall, or the like, and incidentally the invention aims to so construct the brace that it' will prevent movement of the ladder toward the wall, its movement transversely of the wall, and twisting. 1

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a bracing member designed for application to that rail of the ladder which is located next to the wall when the ladder is in use, said brace preventing bending of the rail and serving also to a certain extent, to prevent vibration in the event that the ladders are relatively tall.

For a full miderstanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which v Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ladder support and braceembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail front elevation of one rail of the ladder illustrating the manner of mounting the bracing beam thereon. Fig.4 is a detail perspective view of the upper end of the bracing beam and illustrating the clip. Fig. 5 is a group perspective view of the upper end portions of the supporting standards, the parts con necting the same being shown separated but Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.-

porting'standards. Fig. 7 isa similarview ut illustrating the members arranged in a,

manner different from that illustrated in- Fig. 6. Fig. Sis a vertical sectional viewon the line 88 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is aper} spective view of the structure shownin Fig. 8.- Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 10l0 of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating a slight modification of the upper support. Fig. 12 isa view illustrating this support folded. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view through the support folded.

In the drawing the ladder to which the device is applied is illustrated as of thejordinary construction and includes the usual. side rails 1 and connecting rungs 2. The ladder may be of any desired height, and as will be presently made apparent, the application thereto of the members embodying the present invention does not necessitate altering the construction of the ladder. g The support for the ladder is illustrated as consisting essentially of a pair of supporting standards indicated by'the numeral 3. Eyebolts 4 are secured through the uphung upon theeye-bolt of one, of the stand per ends of the standards and pivotally c ards is a link-plate 5 having a-key-holeslot T 6 formed in itsfree end. A similar plate 7 is pivotally hung upon the other eye-bolt and is provided with a head 8 which may be engaged through the key-hole slot 6 where by to pivotally connect theuppenends of the standards, and to afford a'saddle for one of the lower rungs of the ladders, as clearly shownin Figs. 1 and 2. It will beunder. stood, of-course, that the link-plates 5 and T engage beneath the rungat the end of the same where it joins the rail and that con-- seuuently the? said plates rest against the by the numeral 9, isbent at a point between end with a spur 11 which may be driveninto the standard 3 to which the said portion 10 is to be secured. A-bolt 12 is fitted through an opening 13 formed inthe attaching portion 10 and through an opening 14: formed in the respective standard and the other win or portion of the said member 9 is formed with a series of slots 15, the said series extending longitudinally of the saidportion. The other member of the connection includes an attaching portion 16 formed with an opening 17 through which may be passed a bolt 18 corresponding to the bolt 12. The portion of thismember, indicated specifically at 19 is reduced in fi'lClilll at its free end and hasits reduced portion struck down as at 20 so as to form a hook or lug engageable interchangeably in the slots 15, in the manner clearly illus trated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The free end of the portion'lfi is also provided with a spur which corresponds to the spur 11 and which is indicated by the numeral 21 and is to be driven into the other one of the standards 3 in the same manner as the spur 11. In spacing the lower ends of the stand ards 3, a rod is provided, the rod being pivoted at one end as at 23 to one of the standards and having its other end hooked and engaged in an eye 2&- upon the other standard. it this point it will be understood that the standards may be separated upon the link plates 5 and 7 as a pivot so thatthey will be located a greater or less distance apart at their lower ends and may therefore-be adapted to altord a greater or less length of bearing surface depending upon the height of the latter and it will be understood that after adjustment of the standards upon their connecting link plates, the connection 9 is to be adjusted by engaging the hook end or lug 2O andmember 19 in one or another of the slots 15. It will be apparentby reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that the members of the connection 9 rest against the outer face of the rail of the ladder so. that the rail is embraced on all sides. By reason of this fact the ladder is to a greateror less extent held against turning or twisting with relation to the support.

In order that the supporting standards3 may be braced adjacent their lower ends with respect to the ladder, there is provided a means which is best shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The means mentioned consists of tw brace members, each formed from a single length of rod metal and indicated one by the numeral 25 and the other by the numeral 26. The members .25 and 26 are pivotally connected at one end to each of the standards 3, as indicated by the numeral'27. The member 25 at a pointadja-- cent its free end is bent to form a laterally extending-open sided-loop- 28' and the eX- tremity of this member is bent to form a book 29. The member 26 adjacent its free end is also bent to form an open-sided loop 30 which projects in the direction of the loop 28. The extremity of the member 26 is formed with aneeye 31. Where the supporting device is to be used in connection with a relatively narrow ladder or where it is desirable to locate the ground-engaging ends ofthe standards adjacent to the ladder, the hooks 28 and 30 are inter-engaged, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings so that their sides which are located next adjacent the pivoted ends of the members 25 and 26 will engage against the outer side of that rail of the ladder opposite the rail to which the upper ends of the supporting standards are connected;

If the ladder in connection with which the device is to be used is however, relatively wide, or ifit is desired 'to' have thelower ends of thesupporting standards engage the ground a considerable distance from the ladder, the book 29 is engaged with the eye 31, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. In order that the members may be supported or prevented from dropping down upon the ladder, one or the other of the members is provided with a hook 32 which may have pivotal movement thereon and which may also slide.

In order to brace the upper end of the ladder with respect to the wall adjacent which it is to be supported, there is provided a'bracing means which will now be described.

The bracing means mentioned above in cludes two arms 33 which, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 9 of the drawings, extend at an angle with respect to each other and these arms at their adjacentends are fitted within clips 34 which have their connecting portions overlapped, as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings and held at adjustment by means of a bolt and nut 36 passing through slots 37 formed in the said portions.

It will be observed-that the arms at their said ends together with the connecting portions of the clips 34: straddle a rung of the ladder, which rung may either be the next to the top one or any one below the same.

In orderth'at the bracing arms 33 may be braced against that rung immediately above the rung with which their adjacent ends are engaged, there is provided a brace such as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. This brace consists ofa cross-piece 38 and a cross-piece 39, the latter being secured to one edge of the former and occupying a plane at rightxangles to the'plane thereof. The crosspiece 39 at its endsprojects beyond the ends of the piece 38 and the'said projecting ends of the piece 39 are disposed, in assembling the brace with the arms 33, upon the upper edges of the said arms in the manner clearly shown in the said Figs-8 and 9. In. order to hold the arms against the ends of the piece 38 the brace is provided at its ends with stirrups each formed from a suitable length of bar-metal secured at one end to the respective end of the cross-piece 39 and extending downwardly therefrom to form a portion 40 which is parallel to the plane occupied by-the end-edge of the cross-piece 38. At their lower ends the portions 40 are turned or bent inwardly at right angles as at 41 andsecured to the under edge of the cross-piece 38. It will be observed thatthe upper ends of the portions 40 of the stirrups are secured to the cross-piece 39 at diametrically opposite corners thereof, thus not only strengthening the engagement of the stirrups with the arms 33 but adding also to the strength of the connection between the members 38 and 39. In order that the engagement of the cross-piece 39 with the rung of the ladder may be a firm one, one edge of the cross-piece is notched or cut-away as indicated at 42 to partly embrace the rung in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawings. The outer or remote ends of the arms 33 are properly spaced by means of a cross-rod 43. I

In order that that rail of the ladder which is to be positioned next adjacent the wall may be braced against twisting or bending in all directions, there is provided a bracing beam which is indicated at 44. This beam is'of nearly the same length as the ladder rail and adjacent its upper and lower ends is recessed, as indicated at 45, the said recesses being relatively shallow and receiving the body portions of the clips, of which there are two, one being indicated by the numeral 46 and the other by the numeral 47.

The clip 46 is secured in place-by means of a bolt 48 fitted therethrough and through the recessed portion of the bracing beam 44. Both clips are preferably formed from barmetal and the one indicated at 46 is bent at the ends of its body portion to form ends 49 which terminate in angularly extending portions 50 located parallelto the portion 46. The upper one of the portions 50 is of a length to engageover one ofthe rungs of the ladder in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings after the clip has been engaged about the rail, it being observed that the clip as a whole is pivotally mounted or swiveled so that it may be turned to position to be disposed against the rail and then swung upon its securing bolt 48 to by corresponding reference numerals. The clip 47'has its portions 50 of the same length and neither portion is intended to be engaged with the rungs of the ladder. It will be understood that the clips serve to hold the bracing means 44 snugly against the rail of the ladder sons to prevent bending of this rail orits other.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be seen that there is provided a very simple bracing device adaptable for application to any ordinary ladder and that this device will support two or more ladders in such position that a scaffold plank may sponding rungs of the ladders. It will further be apparent that not only may the device be readily and quickly moved from placeto place in front of a wall but the scaffold board can be adjusted to almost level within the limits of the heights of the ladders.

In that form of the upper support shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, an adjustable brace member is provided in lieu of the rod 43, and this member consists of a rod 43 pivoted at one end as at 44 to one ofthe side members 33 and having its other end provided with a hook 45 engaging interchangeably in openings 46 formed in a bar its portion 39 resting against the upper edges of the said members It will be observed by reference to Fig. 13 that the members 40 may be swung around so as to retwisting to one side or the p celve the side members 33 when the portion- 38 of the bracing member is in position be tween the said side members.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the support embodying the present in vention is constructed and arranged to hold or support the ladder'with the lower ends of stiles spaced above the ground surface."

In other words, the ladder is suspended and it together with the lower support and upper brace members act in substantially the same manner and is braced with relation to the wall, as when an ordinary ladder is leaned against the wall. As a consequence of such a construction and arrangement of parts, weight imposed uponthe ladders, or

more specifically upon the scaflold boards supported thereby will-cause the structure as a whole to be more firmly braced against the wall. It will'also be observed that the i 80 be disposed at its ends upon any two correscaffold board maybe adjusted up or down without the necessity of descending =to' the ground, inasmuch as the one using the support may stand: upon either-of thedadders: 5 while adjusting the said board. It will fun ther be apparentthatthe structure-can be assembled and set up while standing uponthe ground and that, consequently, there is no need to climb to the roof" or window ledges inorder to arrange thesupp'ort; l

Having thus described the invention what. is claimed as-new is 1. A ladder support including bracing members, clips connecting. the-:members at- 5 oneiend-.and engaged with the rung ofzthe ladder to be supported, and meansconnecting theimembers adjacent saidend and en gageable beneath and arrangedtosupport another of said :rungs.

2. Ina ladder-support, bracing members, means connecting the members and provided with stirrups receiving the: said members, said means constituting also a saddle to engagebeneath and supporta rung of the lad- 25, der with thelower end of the ladder spaced above thesurface upon which 'thesupport is. disposed.

3. In a ladder support, spaced bracing: members,v means connecting. the members 30. and. comprising relatively angularly disposed cross-pieces, theends of i one crosspiece projectingbeyondtheends of the other cross-piece and arranged to engage with con responding edges of the bracing members,

land. stirrups secured to the end-edges of thefirst mentioned cross-piece and to one longi.. tudinal edgeot the other cross-piece and spaced from the. ends ofthe last mentioned cross-piece whereby to receive. and. embrace 40 .the said members.

4. In a ladder support, spaced bracing members, means connectingthe members and comprising relatively angularly disposed cross-pieces, theends of one cross-piece pro .jectingbeyond the ends of-the other cross-- piece and arranged to engage with corresponding edges ofthe bracing members, and stirrups secured to the end-edges of the first mentioned cross-piece and to onelongitudi- 0 final edge of the other cross-piece and spaced from the ends of the lastmentioned crosspiece whereby to receive and embrace the saidmembers, the first mentioned cross-piece being provided with a seat to receive a rung 55. of the ladder to besupported.

5. In a .ladder. support, spaced bracing members, means'connectingv the said members and comprising clips having: overlap-pedconnecting portions, and means adjustably connecting the said portions, the clips supporting the bracing members in position for the engagement therebetween, of a rungof the laddertoibe supported.

6 Ina ladder support, bracing means arranged in spaced relation, rail engaging means ,connecting the members adjacent one end, and s'addlelinks pivoted to the members at their said'end and separablyconnected and arranged to engage beneath and support arungofithe ladder to be supported.

7. In1a laddersupport, a bracing means arranged spaced relation; rail-engaging means connecting the members adjacentone end, and saddleilinhs pivoted to the memberstheir saidend and-separably connected and arranged to engage beneath and support" a :rungaof the ladder to be -supported, oneiofthesaid links being provided with :a slot'and the. other linlr being provided with-a head engageable in the slot. I 8.. Ina ladder support, bracing members, means connecting-the members and-including a member secured to one ofthe bracing members and provided with a series of sockets, andwa member'secured to the other bracing member andhaving. a :portion arranged=to= overlap the socketed portion of the-firstrmentioned connecting member and provided with a terminal hook interchangeably. engageable in the said sockets.

9. In aladder support, spaced bracing members arranged for: connection with one side otthe ladder to be supported, and

neans bracing the said members with respect to the ladder andcoinprising rods pivotally connected one to each of the bracing.-=.-members and having; interengageable connecting portions spaced. along their lengths-and adapted for engagement with thefladder. at its other side:

10'. Inaladder support,-spaced bracing members adaptedfor connection; with the ladder-to bs supported at one side thereof,

and meansarranged to cooperate With the other side of'the. ladder whereby to brace the said members with respect to the-ladder, the said means comprising rods pivotally connected one with each of the bracing members, the saidrods-being formed inwardly of their'ends with open loops engaging with each .otherwhereby to co-nnectthe rods at the points of location of the loops and the said rods being provided at their ends'with other interengageable elements adapted to connect the ends at their ends.

11. Alladder supporting and bracing device including bracing members, means connecting. the-members and constituting a saddle for oneo-f the rungs of theladder to support the same clear of-the surface upon which the device is disposed, and means carried by the members for engaging one rail of theladder. I

12. In a ladder support, supporting and bracing; members for the upper and lower endsiof theladder, each having means for the engagementand support of one of the rungs of the ladder and one ofthe rails thereof.

13. The combination. with a ladder to be supported, of a supporting member removwardly and laterally from the other rail of ably connected with the ladder at its lower the ladder. 10 end and extending laterally and down- In testimony whereof I affix my signature wardly beyond one rail thereof and supin presence of two witnesses.

porting'the ladder clear of the surface upon JOHN M. MILLS, JR. [L. 8.] which the support is disposed, and bracing Witnesses:

means for the upper end of the ladder mov- J. H. HEDRICH,

ably connected therewith and extending up r W. T. STAUFFER.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents ,each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G, 

